A Sault Ste. Marie, Mich., man who absconded from Michigan court dates in Cheboygan and Chippewa counties and has been picked up in Wisconsin.
Scotlund Stivers, 52, was charged with endangering Cheboygan County courtroom personnel when he allegedly attempted to ingest sodium cyanide in an effort to take his own life in March 2012 after being sentenced to jail.
In Chippewa County, poison and a cache of 25 firearms were turned up by police during the search of his house in Soo Township.
After having his bond canceled by at least two different agencies when he threatened to leave the country, Stivers was again freed in June but did not appear for sentencing in Cheboygan and also skipped a Chippewa County court date to answer assault charges there.
Marinette County (Wis.) Sheriff Jerry Sauve confirmed Wednesday that Stivers still is being held in his jail.
“We have had him here since June 8,” Sauve said. “He is being held on a $100,000 cash bond. He is fighting extradition back to Michigan.”
Sauve said that on June 7 Stivers was arrested at the Budget Inn Motel by Marinette Police when he used an assumed name to check in but attempted to pay for the room using a credit card issued in his own name.
“The desk clerk became suspicious and called police,” Sauve said. “It turned out he had warrants so they picked him up. ”
According to Sauve, the Chippewa County 50th Circuit Court is seeking a governor's order that would force him to be returned to Michigan to face his charges.
“We have no local charges here,” Sauve concluded. “The sooner we can get rid of him, the better.”
In addition to skipping out on various bonds, Stivers' other court delays include a 2012 motion to discharge his original attorney and his failure to follow up on a forensic center referral downstate. All took place after his March 2012 suicide attempt in court.
Stivers' troubles began nearly three years ago with the abandonment of three vessels in Duncan Bay that leaked oil, one of them still sunk in 18 feet of water. He pleaded guilty to violating Department of Environmental Quality laws and was ordered to serve 30 days in jail and pay substantial fines and costs. The derelict vessels were eventually forfeited to a Sault businessman who has since removed two of them.